A Sandwich That Can't Be Beat

Did you know that Jan. 14 was National Hot Pastrami Day? Did you even know there was such a thing?

Well, it was and there is. Glen Ellyn residents Dick and Joan McCracken, owners of Fumare, located in the Chicago French Market at the Ogilvie Transportation Center, know how to celebrate it like few others.

“I’ve always been a foodie,” Dick said with dry chuckle. “I started watching Julie Child when she started on PBS‑and I was nine.”

The McCrackens opened Fumare—which means smoke in Italian—in September of 2009, serving hungry patrons delicious delicatessen from mostly local producers. But one item of particular specialty is their Montreal-style hot pastrami sandwich that is smoked naturally (as in they use real smoke) and slow cooked fresh at the shop every day.

“Up in Montreal they have something called smoked meat. It is a very literal translation of that which is pastrami,” Dick said. “It’s like Montreal’s Italian beef sandwich.”

Basically, Fumare’s pastrami sandwich is Angus beef loin, maple wood smoked and seasoned with some traditional Montreal spices which can’t be revealed.

“No one in town but me makes their own pastrami,” Dick boasted.

To celebrate National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day, Fumare was passing out free samples of their smoked meat. Customers can either take home a bulk order, by the pound or by sandwich.

“It’s great for a super bowl party,” Joan suggested. 

“It really heats up again just great and it’s just like in the store,” Dick agreed. 

But that’s hardly all they sell at Fumare. In addition to wide array of fine meats and cheeses they also sell sandwiches and a number of Kosher goods. I decided to pick up a few samples and got the turkey sandwich, hot pastrami sandwich and their signature sandwich—boiled ham, gypsy bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato—and yes, it’s a good as it sounds. Plus, if you spend over $25 at the French Market, you get free parking. I shared with a few grateful friends and the thumbs up were unanimous.

Another great item, is their mini baguette, split down the middle and spread with butter. It would be the perfect pre-dinner snack for a hungry commuter heading home on the Union Pacific West Line, or really anytime.

With Fumare, it’s hard to go wrong.